Donaldson, John Plankenhorn, Jr., 1838-1901
Biographical Note
John Plankenhorn, Jr., (1838-1901) and Francis Adams (1840-1928) Donaldson originated from Philadelphia, brothers of a well established family there. On the eve of the American Civil War, John was living in Charleston, Virginia (now West Virginia), running a general store. Integrated with Southern society, he joined the local Kanawha Rifles militia and befriended Noyes Rand (1840-1911), the author of the description in the collection. The Kanawha Rifles merged into the 22nd Virginia Infantry, Confederate Army, and both men became officers of this unit. Francis joined the Union Army as an officer of the 71st Pennsylvania Volunteers (1st California).
Francis was captured at the Battle of Ball's Bluff on October 21st, 1861, and imprisoned in Libby Prison in Richmond. Thanks to personal connections with Governor John Letcher, the Confederate governor of Virginia, Rand and John Donaldson were allowed to secure the parole of Francis several weeks later. It was during the mission to secure Francis' release when the daguerrotype was taken. John Donaldson and Rand were later captured by Union forces themselves. Rand relocated to El Paso, Texas after the war, while the Donaldsons apparently returned to Philadelphia. Rand travelled to Philadelphia in 1904 and reconnected with Francis.
The photograph of a sergeant in a post-Civil War uniform is apparently of a John S. M. Parker, taken in the Pinero Studio, 2204 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. The relationship between this person and the Donaldsons or Rand is unclear.
External Sources:
"John P. Donaldson," FindaGrave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9584011/john-plankinhorn-donaldson
"Francis A. Donaldson," FindaGrave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12875/francis-adams-donaldson
"Noyes Rand," FindaGrave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16549071/noyes-rand
Donaldson, Francis A. Inside the Army of the Potomac : the Civil War experience of Captain Francis Adams Donaldson. Ed. by J. Gregory Acken. Mechanicsburg, PA : Stackpole Books, [1998] (available in Spec Civil War E527.5 118th .D66 1998)